by Ben Lerner, Ian Williams, Sarah Howe, Griffin Poetry Prize Editors
First published 2018
The Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology assembles an electrifying collection of contemporary poetry from around the world. Each selected work represents the pinnacle of international poetic achievement, chosen by expert judges from hundreds of submissions. Poets from diverse cultural backgrounds—Canadian, international, emerging, and established—create a rich tapestry of linguistic innovation and emotional depth. These poems challenge traditional boundaries of language, exploring personal and collective experiences through precise, transformative verse. Readers encounter raw human experience translated into rhythmic, unexpected language that breaks conventional narrative structures. The anthology serves as a critical snapshot of global poetry in 2018, revealing how verse can simultaneously document and transcend cultural moments.
Genres: anthologies, contemporary, poetry, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, raw-human-experience
Period: 2018
120 pages · Paperback · House of Anansi Press